Follow the Prospects: Tyler Schoff, RHP

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Tyler Schoff, RHP


6' 4", 220 lbs
Born 12/6/98 in Utica
From Lee Center, NY
High School - Rome Free Academy
College - Bryant University
Undrafted Free Agent signed in 2021
Currently assigned to Wilmington (A+)

Baseball America page - https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/335050/tyler-schoff/
Fangraphs page - https://www.fangraphs.com/players/tyler-schoff/sa3017545/stats?position=P
MiLB - https://www.milb.com/player/tyler-schoff-694887
B-R - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=schoff000tyl

Having a lot of success at Wilmington this year in relief.  17 appearances, 3-2, 26.2 IP, 3.38 ERA, 40 Ks, 4 BBs, 1.09 WHIP.  A step up from last year at Fredericksburg, where he still had 10.54 K/9 and 3.54 BB/9. This year, he's pitching a mix of inning+ and single inning chances. 3 for 5 in save opportunities.  54.1 GB% with a 2.91 FIP.  A little homer prone when guys hit flies (15% HR/FB), but not giving up a ton of HRs due to his GB orientation (1.05 HR/9). BABIP'd to death (.367, after .350 last year).

An article in his hometown paper at the start of the year describes him as sitting at 93 on his fastball, topping at 95. Talks about his off-season work and the assignment to Wilmington: 

  Reflecting on what he did last season, a 6-3 record with a 4.89 ERA with 61 strikeouts and a save in 53 1/3 innings pitched in 35 appearances, Schoff said he limited the walks and had more strikeouts. This year, he wants to keep building off that, while also limiting the runs allowed and the explosive innings.
...
“I think I impressed the organization,” Schoff said. “I got my velocity up to 95, but I’m sitting at 93, which is decent, but I’m always looking to improve. The Nationals are more into analytics now and I was able to use that to know where I should be pitching. I’ll be pitching more to my strengths and not pitching as much to the batter’s weakness this year.”

“Being at spring training is always fun because everyone in the organization is there at the same time,” Schoff said. “It’s always fun to pick the brains of the guys, pitchers or hitters. I was able to talk to Cade Cavalli, a relief pitcher for Washington, about attacking hitters. He said similar things along the lines of sticking to my strengths and that will be my best option.”

https://romesentinel.com/stories/former-rfa-standout-schoff-to-pitch-at-high-a-wilmington,174639

While not making the Fangraphs 31 prospect list, he did get favorable mention in the discussion of others to follow:

Schoff, 24, signed as an undrafted free agent after the 2021 draft and has now missed a ton of bats with his cutter and curveball through High-A.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/washington-nationals-top-31-prospects-2023/
Also from the same FG article:

This hasn’t been one of the orgs where random late round/undrafted arms pop in a big way after they’re in the system, but there are suddenly a few examples led by Brzykcy, Willingham, and Schoff.

[nobleisthyname]

Funny that Cavalli is called a relief pitcher.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

this guy had perhaps a double whammy of being a pitcher in the northeast and having his junior season wiped out by Covid.

he had a good summer league season in 2019 in the NECL, and a good senior season and return to the NECL in 2021.  IIRC, the 2021 draft was shortened.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

gave up a solo leadoff 9th inning dinger for the loss last night.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

called up to Harrisburg on Wednesday. Made his first appearance tonight. Pitched the 8th and 9th. 2IP, 1 K, 1 hit, save.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

early, but doing well at Harrisburg. 3 appearances, 4.1 IP, has yet to be scored upon, 1H, 2 BB, 3 K.  Has been used twice in the current series vs. the rubber ducks, which is nice because he's been effective even when they get multiple looks at him. Being used in the 7th and 8th now, with 1 two-inning save.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Up to 5 appearances, 6.1 IP, has yet to give up a run. Last 2 appearances have been in the 9th inning, 1 for a save.  4 hits, 2 walks, 5 Ks at Harrisburg.

[welch]

Harrisburg has a lousy bullpen, but Schoff has been the one good one.

[imref]

7 appearances so far in Harrisburg, 8 IP, 7H, 0ER, 2BB, 5Ks

He's heading for DC by the end of the year if he keeps this up.

[imref]

9th appearance tonight, 4th save, no runs.

[imref]

Finally gave up a run and blew a save. He’s ready for the majors

[Natsinpwc]

Finally gave up a run and blew a save. He’s ready for the majors

He’s no Corey Abbott.

[welch]

I watched him last night. His fastball hits 91-92 mph, and batters hit it.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I watched him last night. His fastball hits 91-92 mph, and batters hit it.

that seems a little off his normal. He's supposed to sit at 93 and max at 95.

[welch]

Pitching right now. Again with a fastball 91 and 92 mph, but lots of break on the curve.

[welch]

1 IP so far, 2 BBs, 3 hits, 4 runs. Had some of the hitters waving at emptiness, and had a couple of strikes called a ball, but it looks like he has trouble when the batters wait.

[imref]

crap, hope he isn't hurt

[JCA-CrystalCity]

threw an inning on 8/5. 1 BB, 2Ks, no hits or runs. Same opponent that had roughed him up 2 days earlier.  Nice bounce back.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

2 more appearances, both an inning +: 1 HR with a save over 1.1, and 1 ER over 1.2. 3 Ks, 1 BB.

Fair to say he's finding AA more challenging than A+, with a drop in his K% (36.6 -> 21.4), rise in his BB% (6.2 -> 10.0), and a jump in his opponents batting average (.224 -> .274).  Suppressing homers is helping him.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Pitching set up and middle innings in Harrisburg since 8/12.  Gave up another homer on 8/15 for his only run over 2 innings.

Last 4 appearances: 5IP, 4H, 1ER, 2BB, 4Ks. 21 batters faced.

Small numbers, but he seems to generate a lot of swing and miss. 7 out of 33 strikes the last 3 appearances. Also 7 strikes taken.

[imref]

Promoted to Rochester

[JCA-CrystalCity]

His numbers in AA looked a lot more like last year's numbers in Fredericksburg after a really good start of 2023 in Wilmington. The 2022 A / 2023 AA numbers weren't bad, either. Big difference was in BABIP in AA being in the normal range instead of high.  Walks may be the key, as they went up in Harrisburg. Still, a nice line in AA:

26.2 IP, 26.5 K%, 9.7 BB%, .228 AVG, 1.28 WHIP, .304 BABIP, 3.04 ERA, 3.35 FIP, 42.9 GB%.

Also threw 34.2 IP in A+, with very good numbers. 30% (k-BB)% jumps out.

Pretty decent performance overall. Does not need to be added to the 40 man roster until 12/24.

[imref]

His stay in Rochester was temporary as he's now on the development list.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

His stay in Rochester was temporary as he's now on the development list.

sure. It was probably some sort of procedural thing.

[aspenbubba]

His stay in Rochester was temporary as he's now on the development list.

Sorry for an ignorant question but what is the development list and how does that impact his status on a roster in AA or AAA?

Asking for a friend.